BOYD, Linn, statesman, born in Nashville, Tennessee, 28 November, 1800; died in Paducah, Kentucky, 16 December, 1859. While he was a boy his parents removed to Trigg County, Kentucky, where he was brought up to work on the farm, and could only attend school in winter. At twenty-six years of age he had a farm of his own in Calloway County, and, notwithstanding his slender education, was elected to represent that county in the legislature for successive terms from 1827 till 1830. Returning to Trigg County. he was again sent to the legislature (1831-'2). He was a democrat in politics, and, after a defeat by a Whig candidate in 1833, was elected to congress in 1835. He was defeated for the 25th congress, but elected for the 26th, and from 1839 till 1855 regularly reelected to the national House of Representatives. His native abilities soon made him prominent in the house, and he became chairman of the committee on territories, and on 31 December, 1851, was chosen speaker, which office he held until 1855.He was lieutenant governor of Kentucky for a year before withdrawing from political life, and when he finally retired it was with a high reputation for faithfulness in every public trust.